Collective blogs, short story anthologies, and shared public events are just some ways crime fiction writers are banding together to increase their reach and marketing footprint. This trend is not only great for writers, but also great for readers. Collective Crime Fiction Blogs A collective crime fiction blog is just like it sounds. A group… Read more »
When the label on a hopeful submission to your favourite lit mag switches from “In Progress” to “Declined,” you know the steps you’ll take, right? If your hopes were high, this rejection might have you sobbing into a bowl of cookies and cream. If you’ve built up more resilience in the submission game it might… Read more »
Maybe you’re a pantser when it comes to writing, but to have a writing career, you need to be a plotter. As I discussed in my last post, successful independent authors craft business plans for themselves. They don’t have to be complicated, but they do have to exist. We know that people who write down… Read more »
Writing is more than a job, a hobby, or an interest—it’s a way of life. Not many people outside our crazy little realm can understand it. Sometimes, you need extra support in order to get things done. Enter, your accountability partner. After months (maybe years) of searching for your soul mate, you’ve finally found the… Read more »
Hey there word nerds! You may have noticed that there are some new faces and names around here on Mondays and Tuesdays. We are SO excited to be launching these new columns, and bringing you more awesome advice and expertise to help you Write With Focus, Read With Purpose, and Build Your Community. One of… Read more »
Snazzy author photo? Check. List of all your books? Check. Alright, you have everything you need for your author website. Time to go live, right? Not so fast! Having an author website is like owning your own little corner of the internet and it’s important to set it up in a way that showcases your… Read more »
It was a full four years ago that Facebook bought Instagram, and since that time, Facebook has also started to copy its sister network’s top features—specifically, Instagram Stories. (This is after Instagram copied it from Snapchat, of course—but then, Mom always said imitation is the best form of flattery. I’m sure Snapchat agrees.) Snark aside,… Read more »
Over the years, I’ve read a lot of books about the craft and process of writing. Almost invariably, when discussing the all-consuming writing routine, the author will say something like this: “You must keep your writing time sacred. That means you’ll have to say no to things to which you might otherwise say yes. If… Read more »
I’ve been a perfectionist almost as long as I’ve been a writer. I strove for good grades in school, agonized over homework for hours, and practiced the heck out of dance routines. The work ethic I developed as a result was driven by my determination to do well, a desire to please my family, and… Read more »
Imagine you’ve been invited to read your writing out loud for an audience. Maybe it’s for an open mic night at a local café or indie bookstore. Or, maybe it’s an awards banquet or literary conference event where the recognized writers can bring flash fiction, poetry, or an essay. Regardless, you think, “Sure, why not?”… Read more »
